Plant Vitamin Analysis

Vitamins, as valuable nutrient factors, have great impacts on the regulation of cell growth, development and metabolism. As only a few vitamins can be naturally synthesized by human bodies, nearly all vitamins have to be taken through dietary intake. Plants, such as vegetables and fruits, provide great resources of a wide range of vitamins. The plant-derived vitamins are not only essential for human health, but also required for the function of plant cells. Therefore, profiling and analysis of plant vitamins are critical for both nutritional researches and plant biological studies.

Vitamins that have been found in plants so far can be classified into five groups: vitamin A, vitamin B-complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B9), vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K. Depending on their hydrophobicity, vitamins can also be classified into water-soluble (vitamin B-complex and vitamin C) and fat-soluble (vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K) vitamins.

The analysis of plant vitamins usually requires two steps: sample extraction/purification, and vitamin identification. Lifeasible, as a leading plant biotechnology company with years of experience in plant analytical assays, provides multiple solutions for both sample purification and vitamin detection. Our high quality plant vitamin analysis services are featured by optimized feasibility, sensitivity and accuracy.

Methods for sample extraction and purification

• Ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE). This method involves ultra-sonication, followed by filtration or centrifugation. The supernatant is then collected and subjected to identification analysis.
• Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Specifically, supercritical fluids, such as CO2, are used as extraction media, which allows more efficient extraction.
• Solid phase extraction (SPE). Samples are passed through a SPE cartridge column for purification. SPE is the most commonly used sample preparation method for vitamin analysis.
• Liquid–liquid extraction (LLE). Mainly used for fat-soluble vitamins, the extraction of vitamins is based on differential solubilities in polar and non-polar solvents.
• Dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction (DLLME). As a modified method of LLE, the DLLME method has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency and high sensitivity.

Methods for vitamin identification

• Chromatography methods. Usually coupled with mass-spectrometry (MS) assays, the chromatography methods are powerful tools for precise identification and quantitative analysis of plant vitamins. Some of the most popular chromatography techniques are:
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
• Reverse-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC)
• Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)
• Electrophoretic methods. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a highly efficient method that allows separation of sample compounds by sizes.
• Microbiological assays. This method is based on the principle that specific vitamins are essential for the growth of specific bacteria. Therefore, existence of vitamins can be detected by microbiological inhibition assays.
• Immunoassays. For immunoassays, detection of vitamins is based on antibody detections, which provides higher accuracy and sensitivity. The most commonly used immunoassay is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
• Biosensors. Featured with low cost and technical simplicity, biosensors provide options for quick and easy testing of plant vitamins.
• Fluorescence spectrometry. Fluorescence spectrometry is a simple and sensitive method for the detection of a wide range of plant vitamins.

In order to accommodate different sample types and experimental purposes, applying different combinations of sample extraction methods and vitamin testing methods is necessary for the best results. When needed, custom solutions are also available for special cases. Moreover, our experienced scientists and experts will work closely with you for experimental designing, optimization, technical support and trouble-shooting. Our featured on-stop services that cover everything from sample preparation to data reporting, which saves you time, labor and money.